Page 36 of Reasons We Break

“Even so, you got stood up on your first date. Not exactly a confidence booster.”

Simran says nothing. It’s true that she gave up dating after only one day, but in her defense, it’s mostly because her experience was soured by a kidnapping. Also, Jassa never asked to reschedule.

She refocuses on the cake she’s icing. She and Kiran just baked it: a lemon-vanilla concoction for the special occasion that happens to be their mom’s birthday. Simran’s determined to make it good. For once, Kiran seems to be on the same page. She’s spreading sliced strawberries over it when Simran’s phone rings.

Kiran, being nosy, glances at it first. “‘Charlie Rosencrantz.’ Isn’t that TJ’s infamous white boyfriend?”

“He’s my friend, too.” From years of high school student council together. And he only ever calls if it’s important, so Simran hurriedly rinses her hands to pick up. “Hello?”

The voice on the other end is decidedlynotCharlie.

“Ha!” TJ sounds triumphant. “Iknewyou were avoiding me. Charlie, didn’t I say?”

There’s the sound of a distant voice Simran can’t make out. Then a door closing. While she’s debating hanging up, TJ comes back to the phone, her voice clearer now.

“Charlie wants you to know I stole his phone, it wasn’t given willingly.” Simran can practically hear the eye roll. “But I was desperate. Kiran said you were fine, but I needed to hear it myself. You’ve been ignoring me for two weeks.”

“I’m sorry.” Simran leaves the kitchen, lowering her voice. “I’ve been busy with exams.”

“Is that all? Jeez, Simran. I was scared I pissed you off or something.”

“There’s still time.”

“Ha.”Pause. “Well, if there’s anything else...You can tell me, you know that, right?”

Simran bites her tongue. Hard. “Was that all you called about? I’ve still got studying to do.”

“Oh, okay.” TJ pauses. “One more thing. I have a favour to ask.”

Simran turns her eyes heavenward. “What is it?”

“Nothing big.” TJ sounds casual. Too casual. “The thing is, I’m taking spring semester classes, so I’m not coming back home till the middle of June.”

That’s good to know. Two extra months for Simran to figure out how to act normal around her. “And?”

“Charlie’s coming back, too. And my parents...”

She trails off, but Simran sees where this is going. “Your parents want to meet him.”

“Yep.” TJ sounds glum. “It’s stupid. They’ve met him so many times in high school. But they’re not budging. It doesn’t help that Charlie actuallywantsto meet them. He doesn’t know what he’s asking for.”

No, he probably doesn’t. The extremely charged nature of TJ keeping him a secret probably eludes him. “Where do I come into this?”

“I need you to come run interference.”

Simran rubs her forehead. “Runwhat?”

“Look,” TJ says hurriedly, as if she’d expected pushback. “Mom and Dad are still kind of pissed. I’ve been avoiding talking about it, and I don’t want to get lectured on my first night home, okay? Here’s what I’m proposing. The dinner’s the night I come home. Youcoincidentallyswing by the same time Charlie’s there, you end up sleeping over like you used to. Mom and Dad can’t say anything to me. I’ll owe you.”

“But...won’t they lecture you as soon as I leave?”

“You’re the buffer. It won’t be as bad after they’ve had a day to simmer down.” She sighs. “You know what I mean, right? They’ll make it so serious for no reason.”

Simran tries to picture herself keeping a secret boyfriend from her own mother. “They’ll act like you’ve decided to marry him.”

“Exactly.”TJ groans. “And there’ll be all these hypothetical questions about our future together. I don’t want to deal with that on my first night back.”

Simran wonders whether TJ hasthoughtabout those things; if the reason she wants to avoid the questions is because she doesn’t like her own answers. But before she can ask anything further, her parents shuffle down the stairs. Her mom’s combed her hair and is wearing a pretty floral T-shirt. Her dad’s wrapped his nicest black turban. Time for the cake cutting. “Okay, I’ll do it.”